Top 100 jazz songs, The 100 great jazz songs of all time
84Greatest Jazz Songs of All Time
This is my list of the 100 top jazz songs of all time.
Before I go any further, I need to make a couple of things clear.
First, I really love jazz music. It is an important part of my everyday life and I cannot begin to imagine my daily existence without jazz music in it.
However, I am not what you would call a “jazz purist.”
I firmly believe that jazz music can be created from artists not traditionally labeled as jazz artists.
For example, as you’ll notice on my list of the 100 top jazz songs of all time, I have a couple of artists that might raise a few eyebrows. Artists like Jeff Beck and Frank Zappa. Artists that are usually thought of more in the rock-n-roll realm instead of jazz circles.
But the cuts I have selected from them are indeed jazz cuts. They are briming with the very same creativity, passion and inventiveness that made Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and W.C. Handy the icons that they are.
Jazz is a music that knows no limits, no boundaries.
Following such logic, I have also liberally placed a host of tunes from “avant-garde” artists on this list. I believe that slighty eccentric creators such as Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders are every bit as important to jazz as Billie Holiday and Dave Brubeck are.
This is not a list that was thrown together lightly, either. This was a list that was stitched together a song at a time, minute by minute, hour by hour. This list was written, re-written and then re-written again. Because as much as I love jazz, narrowing things down to just the top 100 songs was almost too limiting a task.
I’m sure there are plenty of worthwhile tracks that I failed to include. I know that when I listen to jazz, just like any other form of music, which songs I decide to play are largely dependent upon my mood at that given time.
Anyway, enough idle chatter.
Here is my compilation of the top 100 jazz songs of all time. Enjoy.
1-20
1. “So What” – Miles Davis
Miles. Trane. Cannonball. Evans. Chambers. Cobb. The greatest lineup in jazz history. ‘Nuff said.
2. “My Favorite Things” – John Coltrane
This interpretation of the Rodgers/Hammerstein classic tune turned on a whole new audience to the brilliance of John Coltrane. It also offered a glimpse of the path that Trane was about to embark upon.
3. “Take Five” – Dave Brubeck
The first jazz instrumental to sell a million copies. A song everyone, jazz fans or not, have heard. Timeless.
4. “Acknowledgement” – John Coltrane
Trane’s spiritual awakening and the start of his ultimate quest. One of the most powerful, transcendent songs ever. This is true gospel.
5. “Birdland” – Weather Report
An excellent introduction to the late Jaco Pastorious. This tune pushed Weather Report to the forefront of the fusion movement and into the mainstream.
6. “Freddie Freeloader” – Miles Davis
Another stone-cold classic from the best jazz album (Kind of Blue) of all time. Never to be duplicated, this is jazz at its highest form.
7. “Psalm” – John Coltrane
Closes out one of the most important albums ever, regardless of genre, on a plateau others could never hope to scale. Monumental.
8. “Strange Fruit” – Billie Holiday
One of the most chilling and haunting, yet utterly compelling, songs of all time. Lady Day poured her heart, soul and every fabric of her being into this cut.
9. “Salt Peanuts” – Dizzy Gillespie
If there were a Mount Rushmore of jazz, Dizz would be carved in stone. And this tune would be playing in the background. Go cat, go!
10. “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” – Cannonball Adderley
Proving their was life after Miles Davis, Cannonball hooked up with then little-known composer/keyboardist Joe Zainwaul and churned out this soulful masterpiece. Who says jazz ain’t got no soul?
11. “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” – Charles Mingus
One of the cornerstone songs of jazz from one of its most covered composers. Mingus could do it all. And he influenced them all.
12. “Chameleon” – Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters
Funk. Funky. Funkiest. This cut molded jazz into something different. Something more urban and more groovy.
13. “Straight Life” – Freddy Hubbard
After the triumph that was Red Clay, Hubbard proved that he had plenty more left in his trick bag on this 17-minute cut. He swung for the fences and hit a grand-slam with this one.
14. “The Creator has a Master Plan” – Pharaoh Sanders
Thirty-two and a half minutes of pure, free form bliss. Enough to induce a deep, fulfilling trance-like state. An under-appreciated artist and song.
15. “Blue in Green” – Miles Davis
More from one of the most incredible pieces of art ever fashioned – Kind of Blue. Miles at his most inventive.
16. “One O’Clock Jump” – Count Basie
Superb joint from one of the masters of swing. Many were the imitators, yet none could touch the magic of Count Basie and his Orchestra. Then or now.
17. “Bumpin’ on Sunset” – Wes Montgomery
The one, the only, Wes Montgomery burning up the fretboard without a pick. Set the standard for those who chose to follow.
18. Naima” – John Coltrane
A powerfully-beautiful and tender ballad, named for Trane’s then wife. This is where Coltrane started to come into his own, composition-wise. As this one proved, the sky was the limit.
19. “Back at the Chicken Shack” – Jimmy Smith
A slice of sweaty, Hammond B-3 heaven from the best of the bunch. Created a template that a thousand jambands would follow 40 years after the fact.
20. “Mister Magic” – Grover Washington, Jr.
Gone way before his time, this cut is a prime example of the way Grover Washington, Jr. could create a wave and ride it all the way to the sunset. Smooth jazz that was anything but smooth.
"Mister Magic"
21-50.
21. “Giant Steps” – John Coltrane
22. “In a Silent Way” – Miles Davis
23. “Dolphin Dance” – Herbie Hancock
24. “In N’ Out” – Joe Henderson
25. “Resolution” – John Coltrane
26. “Alone Together” – Grant Green
27. “St. Louis Blues” – W.C. Handy
28. “Rocket Number Nine Take off for the Planet Venus” – Sun Ra and his Arkestra
29. “Tipitina” – Professor Longhair
30. “Breakfast Feud” – Charlie Christian
31. “Naguine” – Django Reinhardt
32. “It Might as Well be Spring” – Sarah Vaughan
33. “Captain Fingers” – Lee Ritenour
34. “Science Funktion” – Donald Byrd
35. “Blue Rondo A La Turk” – Dave Brubeck
36. “A Remark You Made” – Weather Report
37. “Black Satin” – Miles Davis
38. “Just the Two of Us” – Grover Washington, Jr.
39. “Minnie the Moocher” – Cab Calloway
40. “Aerial Boundaries” – Michael Hedges
41. “Red Clay” – Freddie Hubbard
42. “Round Midnight” – Thelonious Monk
43. “Bright Size Life” – Pat Metheny
44. “Maiden Voyage” – Herbie Hancock
45. “Portrait of Tracy” – Jaco Pastorious
46. “Mood Indigo” – Duke Ellington
47. “Body & Soul” – Coleman Hawkins
48. “Moanin’” – Art Blakey
49. “Straight, No Chaser” – Thelonious Monk
50. “Right Off” – Miles Davis
"Bird Land" Weather Report
51-75.
51. “Jelly Roll Blues” – Jelly Roll Morton
52. “Stratus” – Billy Cobham
53. “(They call me) Dr. Professor Longhair” – Professor Longhair
54. “Sun Goddess” – Ramsey Lewis
55. “Miles Beyond” – Mahavishnu Orchestra
56. “Fables of Faubus” – Charles Mingus
57. “Room 335” – Larry Carlton
58. “Epistrophy” – Thelonious Monk
59. “The Girl From Ipanema” – Getz/Gilberto
60. “Lonely Woman” – Ornette Coleman
61. “The Perfect Man” – Sun Ra and his Arkestra
62. “Hello, Dolly” – Louis Armstrong
63. “Chasin’ the Bird” – Charlie Parker
64. “Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy” – Return to Forever
65. “God Bless the Child” – Billie Holiday
66. “Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers” – Jeff Beck
67. “Tea for Two” – Art Tatum
68. “Volunteered Slavery” – Rahsaan Roland Kirk
69. “Pharoah’s Dance” – Miles Davis
70. “A Night in Tunisia” – Sonny Rollins
71. “Pursuance” – John Coltrane
72. “Satin Doll” – Duke Ellington
73. “Speak no Evil” – Wayne Shorter
74. “Chitlins Con Carne” – Kenny Burrell
75. “Potato Head Blues” – Louis Armstrong
"Giant Steps" John Coltrane Amazing....
75-100.
76. “My Feet Can’t Fail Me Now” – Dirty Dozen Brass Band
77. “Cover Girl” – Larry Coryell
78. “Willow Weep for Me” – Wes Montgomery
79. “A Long Drink of the Blues” – Jackie McLean
80. “Three Views of a Secret” – Jaco Pastorious
81. “Places and Spaces” – Donald Byrd
82. “When you’re in Love” – Horace Silver
83. “Lazy River” – Pete Fountain
84. “Tones for Elvin Jones” – John McLaughlin
85. “Icarus” – Winter Consort
86. “Bemsha Swing” – Thelonious Monk
87. “Moon Tune” – Bob James/David Sanborn
88. “Eternal Child” – Chick Corea’s Elektric Band
89. “Out of the Night” – Brian Melvin Trio
90. “School Days” – Stanley Clarke
91. “Five Hundred Miles High” – Stan Getz
92. “Hog Callin’ Blues” – Charles Mingus
93. “My Funny Valentine” – Gerry Mulligan/Chet Baker
94. “Race with Devil on Spanish Highway” – Al DiMeola
95. “Moritat” – Sonny Rollins
96. “Son of Mr. Green Genes” – Frank Zappa
97. “Big Chief” – Professor Longhair
98. “Anonymous Skulls” – Medeski, Martin & Wood
99. “The Hong Kong Incident” – Jing Chi
100. “Hamp’s Hump” - Galactic
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Love the list! My list would look somewhat different, but that's jazz! We all have our own favourites.
Lovely stuff. Thanks
Love and peace
Tony
Excellent list. It's a personal thing, but i really like a lot of Fats Waller, and Dr John does some great standards too. Nearness of You would be on my list. Cheers, Jon Green
Great list. I'm a big jazz enthusiast. I love Dave Brubeck. And Take Five is one of my favorites of his. I also like Brandenburg Gate. And I love John Coltrane's Favorite Things. Thanks.
Love your definition of jazz. Comprehensive list you've put together. Great work.
Thanks for the comment! That list took awhile to compose.
Good to meet another jazz enthusiast! Reading this list is like a trip down memory lane, particularly with the ragtime numbers. I guess your inclination is somewhat different than because I would include on this list "Gone" by George Benson, "Alice in Wonderland" by Oscar Peterson, "Pacific Sunrise" by Spyro Gyra and "Future Shock" by Herbie Hancock. And shame on you, no Joe Pass or the Brecker Brothers?! Dude! Compiling this list must have caused you some sleepless nights. Keep up the good work. Later!
Buddy, you got taste.
Good stuff
God bless,
M
Good list!! some of my favorite that arent included are: April in Paris (Count Basie), Rise (Herb Albert), Cool Jazz(Miles Davis), Feeling Good (Nina Simone) and how about A Closer Walk and When the Saints Go Marching In??
nice hub.. I love jazz music.. I clicked on your video "Mister Magic".. that's one of my favorite jazz songs.. I didn't know the title is Mister Magic... thanks for sharing.
We love jazz, being a musical family. My son in law plays jazz with his Seattle friends. I would like to share this hub with him. Great job!
You forget about Glenn Miller - In the mood.
Superb collection! Classical stuff! Some hard core cats! ... love it! Check-out FASTTRACKS on Live365.com/stations/djtot12
This list is great thanks for making it, a really good idea would be to make this a playlist on spotify
GOOD BYE PORK PIE HAT!!!! Hail to the Ming, what a madman, that cat could pump!
I was going to light into you at first, but I read the disclaimer by you in the beginning.this is Your top 100 jazz songs. I think its odd you hardly any singers,or,have very limited knowledge of jazz vocalists,ie;Mr.B(rhythm of the riff),Johnny Hartman, Eddie Jefferson- Jennine, King Pleasure,Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald,only one Cannonball Adderley??( Nat wrote several jazz classics, Work Song,Jive Samba, where are Strayhorn tunes, Lush life, Cheslea Bridge,a Flower is a Lovesome Thing,etc. Herbie Hancock's Watermelon Man,Dolphin Dance. Bird's Now's the time, heyyy, what about Moody's mood for love. my point being , mine would be different. I'm just staring a new Hub covering the legacy of jazz and the legends who made & make it happen. I like your hub though . Jazz needs all it can get.
I have a couple of Billie Holiday albums. No matter what a discussion is about I like the songs. And what a warm sound! it's only a guess of mine, that they were recorded on bulb tape recorders. Just some music appeals to some people. Of couse,everybody compares the list with his own, so did I. I found some songs to discover, thanks it was interesting!
Thanks for the list. This will be a big help in improving our music library.
love the list - love jazz - love people who love jazz
but....
paul desmond wrote take 5 - not dave
and
cannonball did not write mercy mercy mercy - guess who did from weather report
Great list! A few more suggestions: Benny Golson's Whisper Not and his Are You Real, played by Art Blakey.
Cheers!
Late to the party as always. I would like to nitpick with you a bit and say that this isn't a list of jazz songs per se, so much as a list of jazz recordings. A list of jazz songs would include songs that many players have played. For example, from the top 10, Acknowledgement and Psalm would be out of the running, much as they are amazing and wonderful and transcendent recordings.
Started listening to some of these songs, instantly fell in love with My Favorite Things with John Coltrane and i'm looking to be amazed again. Thanks.
Thanks for the list sir. i'm 18 yrs old and i just love jazz. but my knowledge on the artists of this wonderful genre is limited. so thank you for the list. i appreciate it. =)
In awe . Im 15yearss old and sleep away by Bob Acris has inspired me. Thanks for the list .
where are all the women? Can't believe you left out Ella...are you saying that women's jazz isnt good enough to be in the top hundred, or just that you havnt listened to any
Good list, Illuminatus. This also gives a handle on how you define jazz -- I mean there's some cats around who swear Kenny G plays jazz, can you believe that?
My list would be different, but like you, mine would also be heavy on Miles and Trane. The world will eat itself before there is anyone better. My own list would probably have some of the Duke, Satchmo, Sidney Bechet, Clifford Brown, Ornette Coleman, Eric Dolphy, guys like that. But jazz is a learning process; the more exposure a listener gets the more he wants to hear more.
Glad to see you had Mingus' Hog Callin' Blues in the list; that song featured probably the best Rahsaan Roland Kirk solo ever.
Firing up the mp3 player ...
Love the list but where's David Axelrod's Holy Thursday!!!!!!!!
I'm just starting to take an interest in jazz and this list is proving to be extremely useful. But the list is only half of the benefit, your comments to "explain" the importance/relevance of the first 20 is the other half that helps a beginner appreciate/know "what to look for". Thank you very much! (May I suggest you add some comments to #21-50 on your list?)
thanks for the list! I put your songs in a grooveshark playlist, together with some of the commenters' favourites.
http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/playlist/Illminatus+jazz+top+100/326011
Nuce list,very diverse but that's to be expected if you truly music. Some of my favorites are "Tanya" by Dexter Gordon, "Spiritual" Coltrane, "Spring can really Hang You Up The Most" David "Fathead" Newman, "Decision" Sonny Rollins and "Compared To What" Les McCann. I could go on.
Wow!
Im shcocked I have especially because I love and know just about all of those songs especially My favourite things by John Coltrane :)
Im suprised though that theres no Glenn Miller :o
Honestly I love Glenn Miller but thats my opinion. Jazz is much better then the pop stuff they play over and over again on the radio this is why I have an ipod
Horace. Silver.
Nice list. I would put Take Five before My Favorite Things.
That song did more for jazz than almost anything EVER!
And with all due respect ... how could you leave out Horace Silver: Song For My Father? What a timeless classic and still remains fresh today.
Yeah - nice list of TUNES...
But I was drawn here in my search for jazz SONGS - you know, that form wherein music and words are combined.
Not to detract from the value and importance of your choices and my pleasure that there are others here and everywhere who also dig jazz, but let's stick to English and obviate my petty disappointment.
Great list. I play trumpet myself so I'm a fan of Maynard Ferguson's "Chameleon"
Great Post but i Wonder. Was happened to "Aja" Stely Dan is amazing song...........
gr8 list m8! Instructs on the best way to put together ma collection. Ma personal favorites include 'little black samba' by grover washington jnr. Take five is another blissful piece. Great stuff!
i'v got to say;i love the list,regardless of what i'l edit for mine but from the fact that it's jazz i like it!!
i missing chick corea la fiesta and no mystery
no buddy rich???
respect for them:)
can any body tell me where can i find some music sheets with jazz muzic especialy for violin...thanks...:)
Great Stuff here...
I am downloading all of the songs on your list to my new iPhone...No disappointments yet on the ones I have already had a chance to listen to so far.
Well Done
These are a few of my favorite things. Thank you for the added video clips. Love it!
No Armstrong in the top 50, and then "Hello Dolly'? Fail.
Where's django & stephane?? Few partnered better than those 2
.
nice list, we definitely have some of the same taste. what a time consuming task to rate and describe your top 100. good job
I'm so glad I ran into this Hub! It really came in handy. Thank you!
I scrolled through it rather quickly, did I miss "Sidewinder"? You've got a great list!
Great list man, finaly i found a decent jazz list... You really have a nice taste. Thanx for sharing it!
i am a big classic/country rock music fan and have been recently started listening to jazz music. Take five is an awesome song. Keep up the great work
Come on now, How do you miss the Signature songs of jazz A Train and Satin Doll, but even more astounding is how you've missed Dizzy, A Night in Tunisa. As a jazz musciain I have been asked to play those songs more than anything else. Your list is good but it is not accurate.
While wondering whether Prof. Longhair is "jazz," I then found Jeff Beck and Frank Zappa on the list...and before anything by Sonny Rollins(?!) Oh well. (And was Ellington anywhere???) This cat like fusion and Miles and fusion and is trying to pay lip service to "the history of jazz." It's like a list of baseball greats without any Yankees.
An incredible list! I couldn't find anything I would eliminate, but I can think of a few singers I would have added.
Voted up and awesome
This list and 15 others have been consolidated into a top 100 jazz songs list here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&¬e_id=/note.php?note_id=10150100225701630
No Vince Guaraldi Trio in the top 100?
Its Salt Deanuts! Well thats what my record cover says!
So glad you included Django and Jaco. good taste. fyi, your bird land video says "embedding disabled by request"
Veryyyy nice list! Although I would've included "In a sentimental mood" by Ellington/Trane - one of my favourites!
Wonderful list. I've picked out a handful to learn. TQ.
Nice list. I agree with a lot of what you're saying (especially #1, which I was actually listening to when I started reading this).
Without Oscar Peterson & Clark Tery and "Brotherhood of Man"? How can that be? And, really, do we HAVE to have "Hello frinkin' Dolly"on the list ? Where is anything by Bessie Smith? "Autumn in New York." Chet Baker's "Time After Time".Nice list, though,overall, and that's why there are 31 flavors of ice cream.
I started listening to jazz in 1962 when I was 16. KBCA in LA. While I like many forms of music, jazz is the one. Great list. But everybody is a critic. If you made it 200 you still would disappoint some people. Three of my favorites: All Blues - Miles Davis, Equinox - John Coltrane, Song For My Father - Horace Silver.
I would have included a few more of Duke Ellington's compositions . . . maybe even some of Hank Mobley.
Love the list. I would have Butterfly by Herbie Hancock on mine
"A Night in Tunisia" is by Dizzie Gillespie, not Sonny Rollins....still a great tune, though!
Wow. Whenever I see these lists of "the best jazz songs" they always end up being rather cheesy. There is real breadth in this list and some quite obscure combinations too. Great inspiration.
Land Of Make Believe-Chuck Mangione
Sammy Davis Jr.....? But sick list.
Greta list, but where is West End Blues?
Great list, save one grave mistake:
There's no Glenn Miller on this list! Surely "In the Mood," or "Moonlight Serenade," or something should make it into the top one hundred?
Other than that it has some of my personal favorites, so it's a pretty good list.
Thanks for pointing me at some great stuff.
What I like best is you make me think with a list like this. Great diversity! From the other comments others are thinking hard too. thanks
I just stumbled across this list while looking for something else - fantastic! Thanks for reminding me of some of the old greats and introducing me to some new vibes!
Nice list. Wouldn't be my top 100, of course. Mine would definitely have some Bud Powell, Clifford Brown, and BIll Evans in there. Also, more tunes by Monk--my fave jazz artist after Miles--Charlie Parker, Art Blakey, and Horace Silver.
I'm A singer & Jazz guitarist. How do I get my albums on Pandora?
I have never commented on any webpage ever but I am so disgusted that I feel I must. I only have one thing to say. There never was nor will there ever be anyone even close to the father of Jazz. You have two of his songs, not even his best work, listed but listed in the bottom half. Your funny. I guess Michael Jordan is not in the top 50 of the best basketball players either. Your lost. Pops is the best of all time.
great list! but im kinda expecting for chet baker and ella fitzgerald to be in this list..but anyway, great choice though. :)
Please, can anybody tell me what is the real name of this song? This is my favourite song, I love her very much but I don't know the real name so I can not found that song on youtube... all I found is this small part of song here on this link :(
I tryed to find this song on youtube with this name Love's theme - Love unlimited orchestra but when I hear it on youtube I realise that this name doesn't belong to my favourite song probably it' s mistake of that person who wrote this smooth jazz list :( please help me!!!!
It's number 2 on the list!
Please, can anybody tell me what is the real name of this song? This is my favourite song, I love her very much but I don't know the real name so I can not found that song on youtube... all I found is this small part of song here on this link :(
I tryed to find this song on youtube with this name Love's theme - Love unlimited orchestra but when I hear it on youtube I realise that this name doesn't belong to my favourite song probably it' s mistake of that person who wrote this smooth jazz list :( please help me!!!!
The list is pretty good. It would be hard to pick. I would have added Jobim (he is the composer of Girl from Ipanema; by the way) and Eddie Harris; but it's your list....
Definitely a lack of Charlie 'bird' Parker and general bebop. Also Charles Mingus' 'moanin' should also be listed somewhere. But otherwise great list.
Moanin' is by Bobby Timmons, not Art Blakey. Not to nitpick; I just say it because the man could use some more appreciation. Thanks for the list! It turned me on to some new music.
No Sing, Sing, Sing? You have a great list, but I don't see how Sing, Sing, Sing or In the Mood could be left off. I also really love Concerto for Cootie/Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
I would make room somewhere for Pop's "West End Blues"
Aw man. I LOVE THIS! Thanks for sharing!
Here's one of my top 10 favorite performances of all time and God bless him for letting it stay up there (first saw it at about 600 views).
awesome!!! you made this 2 years ago and i feel cheated not finding your list before...thanks alot.
Dink96 2 years ago
This is such an incredibly comprehensive list that I have to look over it for a while longer before I can REALLY comment, but my first thought is: My goodness! Also like Leon Thomas' version of "The Creator Has a Master Plan"---I absolutely loved his yodeling. One more story: one year my husband and I found a little red metal rocket ship Xmas ornament at Restoration Hdwe. We painted a "#9" on it and hang in on our tree every year!!! I LOVE THIS HUB----I'LL BE BACK!!